Shelly Bay divisions ease with iwi change

Shelly Bay has divided an iwi, caught the eye of a famous filmmaker, and launched a mayoral campaign, but finally, after 16 months, a land occupation there has come to an end.

The prime real estate on Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula is earmarked for a $500 million development, featuring 350 new homes.

Mau Whenua, a breakout iwi group, claims the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) went against the will of its people when it sold the land for development and that the deal was done in secret.

However, years of unrest between Taranaki Whānui members have started being resolved after a change in personalities.

In December Kara PuketapuDentice was elected as the PNBST chairman. Mau Whenua member Shamia Makarini said the trust’s approach changed from being adversarial and aggressive.

“It was very much done in line with tikanga. It was done with good will, and a solutions-focused approach, and with the view of benefiting our people.”

Since their korero, the trust has committed to the principle of holding on to significant land within its tribal area as a key pillar in its revised strategic plan.

Puketapu-Dentice said holding their whenua has always been implicit for Māori, but not necessarily explicit. Incorporating that kaupapa into the trust’s strategic plan provided a level of certainty for Mau Whenua.

“Something that our people can hold us as trustees to account for.”

Mau Whenua has not given up its fight for the land at Shelly Bay and will not be withdrawing its claim before the Māori Land Court.

Protest action will continue against the development, but might look different from the occupation, which has served its purpose, Makarini said.

Puketapu-Dentice said he was fairly confident members of Mau Whenua will not be standing in front of diggers when development work starts.

The saga has gone on for too long, he said. “We are no longer Ngāti Shelly Bay, we are Taranaki Whānui.”

It was done with good will, and a solutionsfocused approach, and with the view of benefiting our people. Shamia Makarini Mau Whenua member